Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Complete Week 7 Preview for Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been alternating between trying to put together their first winning streak of the season and trying to prevent their first losing streak.
This week, it's the latter as the Steelers host the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in a battle of 3-3 teams.
Not surprisingly for a team that's finished 8-8 in each of the last two seasons, the Steelers have gone W-L-W-L-W-L so far this season. They haven't followed that pattern through the first six games of a season since 1991. Their third loss that year hatched a four-game losing streak that dropped their record to 3-6, and they finished 7-9 in Chuck Noll's final season.
The Week 7 loss that year, the one that made them 3-3, was the last time the Steelers lost a Monday Night Football game at home. The New York Giants beat them 23-20.
The Steelers have won 15 straight Monday Night Football games at home since then, according to Pro Football Reference. That means Bill Cowher never lost at home on a Monday night, and neither has Mike Tomlin.
Rather than the team they're facing, a single player might be the biggest hurdle between the Steelers and the right side of .500.
Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt is not only the leading candidate to be named AP Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in three years, but he's also an MVP contender.
Watt has returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns this season and even caught a touchdown pass. He's also blocked an extra point. He's the kind of disruptive force that Troy Polamalu was in his prime. Unless the Steelers get some blockers on him, they'll get a taste of what opponents have felt watching Polamalu ravage their offense.
Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't figure to strike as much fear in the Steelers as Watt. Then again, neither did Brian Hoyer nor Mike Glennon.
The Steelers couldn't take advantage of a three-game stretch in their schedule that included a home game against Tampa Bay and road games at Jacksonville and Cleveland. Those teams have a combined record of 4-13, but the Steelers went 1-2 against them.
Now the Steelers have a three-game homestand, but it's against more formidable opponents. In Week 8 they face the Colts, and in Week 9 they'll have their rematch against the Ravens. It's their first three-game homestand since December of 2010. They went 2-1 in those games.
But that was a Super Bowl team. Now the Steelers are a .500 ballclub. They have a chance on Monday night to improve on that, even if it's just for a week.
Steelers Week 6 Recap
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Unlike the Steelers' two previous losses at Cleveland, the Browns didn't squeak out an upset win by a thin margin under wacky circumstances. In 2009, the 1-11 Browns stunned the 6-6 Steelers 13-6 on a Thursday night in 15-degree weather with a subzero wind chill. In 2012, the 2-8 Browns beat the 6-4 Steelers 20-14. The Steelers fumbled five times in that game.
This time, the Browns dominated the Steelers 31-10, suggesting they're the better team. The Steelers had just three points to show for two trips into the red zone. Then the Browns (3-2) scored 21 points in the second quarter to take a 21-3 halftime lead, and it was essentially over from there.
Since the Browns returned to Cleveland in 1999, the Steelers have lost to them just six times in 33 games. They haven't made the playoffs in any season in which they've lost to the Browns during that time.
Sunday's defeat was the Steelers' most lopsided loss to the Browns since Pittsburgh drafted Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.
As sobering as this defeat was from a historical perspective, it's not as discouraging as the loss at home to Tampa Bay. That loss looks worse after each passing week. The 1-5 Buccaneers allowed 35 points in the game's first 16 minutes at home against the Ravens on Sunday, losing 48-17.
The Buccaneers came off just as pathetic a performance when they came to Pittsburgh. They lost 56-14 at Atlanta in Week 3. But they had 10 days of rest because that game was on a Thursday night.
Like the Bucs in Week 4, the Houston Texans will have three more days of rest than the Steelers. They lost 33-28 at home to the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football in Week 6. Teams playing on Thursdays this season are 6-4 the following week.
Like the Browns, the Texans don't give up when they're down big. They fell behind 24-0 in the first quarter against the Colts before rallying.
The Texans are just as inconsistent as the Steelers. They're 1-2 on the road this season, with the only win coming at 0-6 Oakland.
This is a winnable game for the Steelers, but they showed in Week 4 that they can lose any game, too.
News and Notes
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McCain to Replace Allen as Starting Cornerback
Cortez Allen has been demoted for his disappointing play, and Brice McCain will start at cornerback for the Steelers Monday night, according to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
McCain will start against his former team. He played for the Texans for five years before being released after the 2013 season.
The 27-year-old cornerback returned an interception 22 yards in the Steelers' 17-9 win at Jacksonville in Week 5.
Allen, meanwhile, hasn't lived up to the four-year, $24.6 million contract extension he signed just before the season. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks him dead last among 175 cornerbacks in the NFL this season.
On Sunday at Cleveland, Brian Hoyer's quarterback rating on passes thrown at Allen was an astonishing 149.3.
McCain is the NFL's 114th-ranked cornerback, according to PFF. He'll be making his 11th career start.
Rookies Getting a Longer Look
It's time for the Steelers to take some members of the 2014 draft class out of the incubator.
Defensive end Stephon Tuitt, drafted in the second round, will get his first career start start Monday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sixth-round pick Daniel McCullers will be activated for the first time, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and fourth-round pick Martavis Bryant also could get a helmet for the first time.
Nose tackle Steve McLendon is out with a shoulder injury. Defensive end Cam Thomas will move to nose tackle and the 6'7", 352-pound McCullers will provide depth. Tuitt will replace Thomas at defensive end.
The 6'4" Bryant practiced with the first team for the first time Wednesday, according to Jim Wexell of Steel City Insider, and is a possible red-zone remedy because of his size. The Steelers are sixth in the NFL with 396.5 yards of offense per game but just 31st in touchdown percentage in the red zone, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
As desperate as the Steelers are for red-zone help, however, Bryant has to earn his game-day uniform.
Ward, Cowher Criticize Steelers
The Steelers hit such a low after their 21-point loss to the Browns that even their former head coach and the team's all-time leading pass-catcher are sounding off, and it has created a firestorm.
Bill Cowher on CBS and Hines Ward on NBC both slapped the "soft" label on the Steelers defense, via Pro Football Talk.
Ward and Cowher long ago traded in their pads and headset for suits and microphones. Such commentary is part of their jobs. Current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said at his weekly press conference that the criticism is "elevator music," according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Steelers linebacker James Harrison had a different take on it, according to Dale Lolley of the Observer-Reporter in Washington, Pennsylvania.
"James Harrison told me today if #Steelers don't want to be considered soft they shouldn't put soft on tape
— Dale Lolley (@dlolleyor) October 15, 2014"
Ward, who's never been best friends with Ben Roethlisberger, even told Pro Football Talk that Roethlisberger, not offensive coordinator Todd Haley, is to blame for the problems on offense.
Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey wasn't thrilled with that comment, according to Scott Brown of ESPN.com.
"Pouncey to Ward: "Come here and watch us work. Come here and watch the preparation we’re putting in every single day."
— Scott Brown (@ScottBrown_ESPN) October 16, 2014"
Clowney a Game-Time Decision
Jadeveon Clowney practiced Friday for the first time since tearing his meniscus in the season opener, and he'll be a game-time decision against the Steelers, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
The top pick in the 2014 draft had knee surgery the day after the opener and hasn't played since. In three years at South Carolina, the 6'5", 266-pounder had 47 tackles for loss and 24 sacks.
Even if he plays, the Texans will work him in slowly.
Draft Class Update
Wesley Johnson became the first member of the Steelers 2014 draft class to move on.
The team waived the versatile offensive lineman from Vanderbilt last week, according to Rotoworld, to make room on the roster for Ross Ventrone. The Steelers needed Ventrone on special teams with Shamarko Thomas injured.
The Jets picked up Johnson but did not activate him for Thursday night's game at New England.
The other eight players in the draft class remain with the team in one form or another. Ryan Shazier, Stephon Tuitt and Dri Archer have played. Daniel McCullers will be activated for the first time Monday, and Martavis Bryant is under serious consideration to be activated. Rob Blanchflower is on the practice squad. Shaquille Richardson is on the practice squad injured reserve list, and Jordan Zumwalt is on injured reserve.
Head-to-Head with Houston
Since coming into the NFL as an expansion team in 2002, the Texans have played the Steelers just four times, less than any other AFC team.
They've split the four games, with each team going 1-1 on its home turf. The Steelers lost to the 3-9 Texans 24-6 at Heinz Field in 2002 despite outgaining them 422-17. That Week 14 loss cost the Steelers the top seed in the AFC playoffs. They finished 10-5-1, behind the Raiders and Titans, who both finished 11-5. So the Steelers had to play at Tennessee in the divisional playoffs, where they lost 34-31 in overtime.
The Steelers routed the Texans in each of their two most recent championship seasons, winning 27-7 at Houston in Week 2 of the 2005 season and 38-17 in the 2008 season opener at Pittsburgh.
They lost 17-10 at Houston in Week 4 of the 2011 season.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Brett Keisel | DE | Probable (knee) |
| Steve McLendon | NT | Out (shoulder) |
| Mike Mitchell | S | Probable (knee) |
| Ryan Shazier | LB | Questionable (knee) |
| Ike Taylor | CB | Out (forearm) |
| Shamarko Thomas | S | Out (hamstring) |
Rookie inside linebacker Ryan Shazier isn't optimistic about playing, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
He's missed three games since hurting his knee in Week 3 at Carolina.
Mike Mitchell broke up his first two passes of the season in Cleveland. The Steelers are thin at safety. Will Allen is the only one besides Mitchell and Troy Polamalu who has seen any action this season, and he's played just five snaps.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review was used for injury report information.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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J.J. Watt vs. Steelers Offensive Line
Every Steelers offensive lineman has to share the responsibility of keeping J.J. Watt out of the backfield. The Texans' All-Pro defensive end lines up all over the place.
The 6'5", 289-pound Watt has scored three touchdowns this season. He returned an interception 80 yards in the Texans' 23-17 win over the Bills in Week 4. He returned a fumble 45 yards in a 33-28 loss against Indianapolis in Week 6. He even caught a one-yard touchdown pass at Oakland in Week 2.
Watt has four sacks this season and six passes defended. According to ESPN.com, he's tied with the Ravens' Haloti Ngata for the most pass breakups by a non-defensive back.
The Steelers' pass protection is still a work in progress. They've allowed 17 sacks this season, fifth-most in the NFL.
Watt, a two-time Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro, can single-handedly win this game for the Texans. He's a matchup nightmare on offense and possibly even on defense.
Brice McCain vs. Texans Receivers
Brice McCain has covered former teammates Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins in practice, but he'll do it for real on Monday night as the Steelers' starting cornerback in place of Cortez Allen.
The 33-year-old Johnson leads Houston with 34 catches for 419 yards and a touchdown. He's averaging 12.3 yards per reception. Hopkins, in his second year out of Clemson, has 25 catches for 366 yards and three touchdowns. He's averaging 14.6 yards per reception.
The Texans are throwing for an average of 208.5 yards per game, 28th in the NFL. Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown for six touchdowns and six interceptions and has an 86.1 passer rating.
McCain stands out for his pick-six at Jacksonville, but he hasn't really been tested this year. He's been targeted just eight times, according to Pro Football Focus. That ties him for 113th in the NFL. But he's allowed only two completions on those eight pass attempts.
Antonio Brown vs. Kareem Jackson
If the Steelers can keep Watt from pillaging their backfield, they theoretically can take advantage of the Texans' porous pass defense. Houston has allowed 271.5 passing yards this season, 28th in the NFL.
Kareem Jackson is the Texans' highest-ranked cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus.
Antonio Brown is fifth in the NFL with 41 receptions and second with 629 receiving yards. His streak of 22 straight games with at least five receptions and 50 yards has gained national attention, but he also has caught at least one 20-yard pass in 10 straight games.
Lawrence Timmons vs. Arian Foster
The Steelers were making a lot of progress stopping the run but took a major step back last week.
They yielded 191 rushing yards to the Browns in the season opener and 157 yards to the Ravens in Week 2.
Then they gave up a combined 161 yards in their next three games, but the Browns torched them for 158 yards on the ground last week.
The Steelers haven't faced a running back as productive as Arian Foster this season. He's third in the NFL with 513 rushing yards, behind DeMarco Murray (785) and Le'Veon Bell (542). Statistically, the Ravens' Justin Forsett is the best running back the Steelers have faced so far, but he wasn't Baltimore's leading rusher in Week 2.
Lawrence Timmons has led the Steelers in total tackles in four of their six games this season. Opponents' running plays often funnel their way to him. The Steelers have allowed six running plays of 20 or more yards this year, tied for third-most in the league. The more stops Timmons makes, the less of those the Steelers will allow.
Steelers X-Factor to Watch: Stephon Tuitt
It's time for Stephon Tuitt's close-up.
Is he ready?
Tuitt, a rookie drafted in the seventh round, will make his first start Monday. The Steelers need the 6'5", 303-pound defensive end to aid their run defense against a team that runs the same zone stretch that the Steelers couldn't stop against the Browns.
Tuitt had 21.5 sacks, 25 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in three years at Notre Dame, according to Sports-Reference.com. He can be a disruptive force on the defensive line rather than just someone who occupies blockers. According to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, he intercepted a screen pass at practice last week.
The Steelers have been bringing Tuitt along slowly. He's played just 67 snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. His 18 snaps at Cleveland were the most he's seen in a game this season. He also received his lowest overall grade.
If Tuitt is not ready for the increased workload, the Texans could take advantage.
According to Jim Wexell of Steel City Insider, the Texans' running attack is not a favorable matchup for the Steelers.
"As much as I believe in Dick LeBeau and his methods, I just can't see this young defense stopping the Texans' 3-WR, zone-running scheme.
— James C Wexell (@jimwexell) October 17, 2014"
Prediction
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This won't be much of a step forward for the offense. The Texans are ranked 27th in the league defensively, but that's better than the Browns (29th) and Jaguars (30th), and the Steelers' offense managed only 10 points against each of those teams.
There's not much evidence to suggest that the Steelers can stop Arian Foster, either. But despite just one truly impressive performance (Week 3 at Carolina) in six games this season, the Steelers have scratched out a .500 record.
It's easy to forget that the Steelers spotted the Buccaneers 10 points in the first five minutes. Had the Steelers not pressed the snooze button at kickoff, the Buccaneers' late rally wouldn't have been enough.
The Steelers will be wide awake in the prime-time spotlight. They're slowly but surely reducing their penalties. They've gone from 13 penalties in the loss to Tampa Bay to 11 at Jacksonville to six last week. They've also forced at least one turnover in each of the last four games.
A touchdown and four Shaun Suisham field goals will be enough for the Steelers in this game.
Prediction: Steelers 19, Texans 14
All stats from NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
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